Richmond Heights School superintendent resigns amid charges

Richmond Heights Superintendent Robert Moore submitted a letter of resignation to the Richmond Heights School Board on April 14.
In the letter, which was addressed to School Board President Bobby Jordan, Moore said it is “with regret and disappointment that I submit my letter of resignation as Superintendent of Schools with the Richmond Heights Local School District.”
He also said that he enjoyed working with the school board and thanked them for allowing him to serve the students and community of Richmond Heights.
Moore, 52, of Mentor, was previously suspended with pay March 3, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Moore and the district’s building and grounds director Richard Muse, 43, of Cleveland Heights, allegedly “shook down a business that contracted with the school district” and threatened to end the victim’s business arrangement with the district if she did not make cash payments to them, according to Cuyahoga County prosecutors.
Moore and Muse were each originally indicted in March on felony charges of extortion, bribery, theft in office and a misdemeanor count of soliciting or receiving improper compensation.
A grand jury recently re-indicted the two officials and they now face a combined total of eight additional felony charges that predate their previous charges. Both men pleaded not guilty to additional charges during an April 9 arraignment in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
The School Board originally planned to vote on a resolution that would have suspended Moore without pay April 14, but the resignation letter was received before the start of the meeting.
The board unanimously accepted the resignation.
“We’d like to thank him for the time he was here,” Jordan said. “We’re saddened that he’s leaving, but we accept his resignation.”
Interim Superintendent Robert Mengerink said he expects to make a recommendation regarding Muse’s employment status soon. Muse was suspended with pay March 4.
Mengerink, who has a full-time job as the superintendent of the Cuyahoga County ESC, has been serving in the position as the district’s superintendent while the board searches for a longer-term option.
Jordan said the board could make a decision about a long term interim superintendent this week.
The School Board will have a special meeting at 7 p.m. April 17 in the board offices and Jordan said he expects action to be taken that night.